Shoulder pad



Oct. 25, 1960 Filed April 26, 1955 A. J. TURNER 2,957,177

SHOULDER PAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [22 z/ez780r cflraizihzld r/f Turner Oct. 25, 1960 A. J. TURNER 2,957,177

SHOULDER PAD Filed April 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SHOULDER PAD Athletic Goods Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 26, 1955, Ser. No. 504,008

6 Claims. (Cl. 22)

This invention relates to shoulder pads, and more particularly to the structure of shoulder pads of the type worn by football players.

A general object of my invention is to provide a shoulder pad having a structure such that it not only affords adequate protection, comfort and freedom of movements to the wearer, but also embodies features enabling it to retain proper shape and part relationships for effective use in blocking and tackling opponents in playing football.

As another and more specific object, this invention has within its purview the provision of an effective anchoring structure for protective epaulets which prevents the epaulets from being skewed or otherwise dislocated by I the blows and stresses encountered in use, and also allows freedom of shoulder and arm movements to the wearer.

My invention has for another object the provision of a supporting structure for the epaulets of a football shoulder pad which retains an effectively disposed surface for blocking and tackling, while also distributing the forces and impacts over a relatively large portions of the shoulder caps and adjacent pad structure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoulder cap structure which is adapted to serve as an epaulet support and which includes a padded inner shell having an outer shell secured thereto and shaped to distribute forces transmitted therethrough over a relatively large area of a Wearers shoulder.

The invention further comprehends the provision of an epaulet anchoring structure for a football shoulder pad which includes flexible positioning Webs having ends anchored to the shoulder caps.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the two sheets of drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational View of a shoulder pad structure embodying a preferred form of my invention and is of a type adapted to use by football players;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one side of the shoulder pad structure illustrated in Fig. l, and is taken substantially as indicated by a line 22 and accompanying arrows in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but wherein a part of the structure is cut away and removed to show details that are not illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, but wherein additional parts are removed to show details of construction;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the shoulder pad structure depicted in Fig. l and is taken substantially as indicated by a line 55 and accompanying arrows in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the shoulder pad structure illustrated in Fig. l, and wherein one of the parts of the structure is illustrated as being raised to an abnormal position for the purpose of showing structural nite States Patent 0 "ice details which are not visible with the parts in their normal positions;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front sectional view taken substantially on a line 77 of Fig. 6 and in the direction indicated by arrows; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views of details of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6 and which are respectively taken substantially on lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. 6 and in the directions indicated by arrows.

In the exemplary embodiment of my invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, a shoulder pad structure 10 has rightand lefthand body protective members 12 and 13 which are each arched and contoured to fit over a wearers shoulders and to extend downwardly at the front and rear to protect the wearers chest and back. The rightand left-hand body members 12 and 13 are similarly constructed, except for being laterally reversed, so that a description of one is applicable to the other. Each includes a relatively hard and stiff outer shell 14 made of a material such as molded fiber and is internally padded by a lining 15 which may be made of cloth covered sponge rubber secured to the inner surface of the shell, as by stitching 16 along the margins of the shell. The rightand left-hand body members 12 and 13 are flexibly and adjustably connected together at the front and rear by lacing 17 and 18 which extends through punched lacing strips 19 and 20 secured to the inner edges of the shells. Each body member is also provided with an adjustable body strap 22 having its ends secured to the-lower portions of the front and rear parts of the shell at positions for extending under a wearers arms and across the back for holding the body members firmly in position on the wearers shoulders.

Adjacent the outer edge of an arched mid-portion 23 of each body member, as depicted in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, a shoulder cap 24 made of a relatively hard and stiff material, such as molded fiber, is hingedly connected to the shell of the body member by a flexible straplike element 25 having its opposite ends secured to the body member shell and shoulder pad by fastening means such as rivets 26 and 27. The shoulder cap 24 is cupped in contour to fit over and around the front, rear, side and top surfaces of a wearers shoulder. Internally, each shoulder cap is padded with a lining material which, as shown in Fig. 7, may be a sponge rubber pad 28 covered externally by a layer of cloth 29 and secured to the cap by stitching 30 along the margins of the cap.

Each of the shoulder caps of the football shoulder pad structure herein disclosed has secured to its external surface an outer cap 32 of a relatively hard and stiff material such as molded fiber, which outer cap covers a substantial portion of the upper and outer surfaces of the shoulder cap. Also, each outer cap has its mid-portion shaped or dished convexly toward the exterior at its mid-portion, so as to provide a portion 33 spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the shoulder cap and marginal portions 34 encompassing the portion 33 and conforming substantially to the outer surface contour of the shoulder cap. The outer cap 32 is secured to the shoulder cap 24 by fastening means such as a plurality of rivets 35, in addition to the aforementioned rivets 27, which extend through the marginal portions of the outer shell and the adjacent portions of the shoulder cap and are in spaced relationship peripherally of the margin of the outer cap.

At each side of the shoulder pad structure, an epaulet 36 overlies the outer marginal portion of thee adjacent body member and the upper, front and rear portions of the adjacent shoulder cap and its superposed top cap. Each epaulet is arched from front to rear to conform substantially to the arched contour of the body member. Also, each epaulet constitutes a relatively hard and stifif 3 shell made of a material such as molded fiber and, in the present instance, an elongated area 37 at the midportion of the epaulet is convexly shaped upwardly to add rigidity to the structure and to provide a squared appearance to the shoulder lines.

At the arched mid-portion of the shoulder pad structure and in substantial alignment with the shonldercaps, each epaulet '36 is hingedly secured to the lateralinne'r portion of the adjacent body member by a flexible straplike element 38; one end of the straplike element .38 being secured to the lower surface of each epaulet by fastening means such as rivets 39, and the other end of the straplike element being secured to the upper surface of the shell of the body portion by fastening means such as rivets 40. A smooth outer edge surface is provided on each epaulet by binding 42 which overlaps the full peripheral edge of each epaulet and is secured thereto by fastening means, such as stitching 48. In order that the epaulets will maintain a relatively level upper shoulder surface which is adapted to use in tackling and blocking, and even when the users upper arms are held close to the sides of the body, the surface of each epaulet is aligned for engagement with the raised mid-portionof the outer cap 32, the height of the raised mid-portion of the outer cap .being so related .to the contours and position of the epaulet that when the epaulet is engaged with the surface of the outer cap, a substantial support is afforded for maintaining the level position of the epaulet relative to the other parts of the. shoulder pad. In regard to this portion of the structure and the relationship of parts existing when an epaulet is forced downwardly into engagement with the raisedmidportion' of the outer cap 32, it may be observed that the forces transmitted through the outer cap to the shoulder cap from the epaulet are distributed through the margins of the outer cap to a relatively large surface area of the shoulder. cap, thereby eliminating a concentration of force against a very limited area of the shoulder cap and adding to the comfort of the wearer.

In the'disclosed structure, skewing of the epaulets relative to the body members is limited by flexible webs 44 and 45, which webs are anchored and applied to the epaulets. For the accomplishment of this result, each of the webs 44 and 45 has one end anchored to the adjacent shoulder cap at a position between the shoulder cap and the outer cap and forwardly and rearwardiy of the top mid-portion of the shoulder cap, and secured in place by the rivets '27. From the shoulder cap, the webs 44 and 45 extend in angular relationship to one another to opposite front and rearend portions of the epaulet. The front web 44 extends beneath the epaulet from the adjacent shoulder cap and around the inner edge of the epaulet, with a portion 46 looped back over the top of the inner margin of the epaulet and thence extends downwardly through a slot 47 in the epaulet, adjacent which it is secured to the under surface of the epaulet by fastening means such as rivets 48. The rear web 45 extends beneath the epaulet from the adjacent shoulder cap 24 and upwardly through a slot 49 near the rear end of the epaulet, with a portion 50 looped back over the top surface of the epaulet and extending downwardly through a slot 52 in the epaulet, adjacent which it is secured to the under surface of the epaulet by fastening v means such as rivets :53. When'the webs 44 and '45 are secured in place, they are tensioned to afford a force at the 1nner marginal portion of each epaulet which normally holds the outer marginal portion in a position raised above the surface of the mid-portion of the outer cap on the adjacent shoulder cap. The tension is such that considerable force is required to press the epaulet into a position such that its lower surface engages the mid-portion of the outer cap of the adjacent shoulder cap. This arrangementtends to absorb shocks and pro- "vides :resilience inthe action of the epaulet structure wrthoutipermitting the epauletto be 'co'llapse'd by force 4 to a position in which the usefulness of a level shoulder surface would be lost in blocking or tackling.

In providing a structure which embodies the part relationships and actions which have been heretofore described, it may be observed that the means utilized still affords ample freedom for movements of the users arms. That is, since the webs 44 and 45 are anchored to the shoulder cap on each side of the shoulder pad structure, upward movement of the usersupper arm or shoulder which moves the shoulder cap upwardly also provides slack .in the webs 44 and ,45 for corresponding upward swinging movement of the adjacent epaulet. Also, the angular relationship of the webs 44 and 45 to one another and their angular relationships to the 'aXes of the hinge connections 10 the shoulder caps and epaulets affords effective disposition of the webs for preventing an epaulet from being skewed by force from its effective operative position.

From the foregoing description and reference to the accompanying drawings, it may be understood that I have provided a shoulder pad structure which not only affords ample freedom for movements of the users shoulders and arms, but which also embodies parts and structural relationships which have a tendency to absorb impact and also to maintain relatively level shoulder surfaces which are effective for use in blocking and tackling.

Having thus described and disclosed my invention, it will be understood that obvious modifications other than those illustrated in the drawings may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a football shoulder pad, the combination comprising a pair of padded body members attached in opposed relationship -to one another and each having arched shoulder portions, padded shoulder caps hingedly secured to the arched shoulder portions of the body members and extending outwardly therefrom, arched epaulets overlying the outer regions of the arched shoulder portions of the body members and adjacent portions of the shoulder caps, flexible means providing a hinge connection between the mid-portion of the inner lateral margin of each epaulet and the adjacent arched shoulder portion of the body member, and flexible webs each having an end secured to one of the shoulder caps and extending in angular relationship to one another from said one of the shoulder caps to the inner marginal portion of the adjacent epaulet, said flexible webs each being looped'back in closely embracing relationover an inner portion of said adjacent epaulet near its outer end and secured thereto.

2. ,In a football shoulder pad, the combination comprising a pair of padded body members laced together in opposed relationship to one another and each having arched shoulder portions, -padded shoulder caps hingedly secured to they arched shoulder portions of thebody mem- .bersanjd extending outwardly therefrom, arched epaulets overlying :the outer regions ,of the arched shoulder portions of :the body members ,and adjacent portions'of the shoulder caps, jflexible means providing a hinge connection between the mid-portion .o'frthe inner lateral margin of each epaulet and the adjacent arched shoulder portion *ofthe body member, relativelyrrigid toprcaps-having mar- .ginal portions fitting .over and secured-to the shoulder caps and mid-portions contouredtoextend upwardly in spaced relationship to the shouldercaps, and flexible webs each having an-end secured to one'of the: shoulder caps and extending in angular relationship .to one .another from said one of the shoulder caps to the innermarginal portion of the adjacent epaulet, saidflexible webs each being looped back over an inner portion'of said adjacent epaulet and secured thereto under tension, and said top caps providing'stops against whichlthe epaulets bottom under stress to support the epaulets in arelatively level position with respect to the arched shoulder portions of the body members.

3. In a football shoulder pad as defined in claim 2, said one end of each of the flexible webs being secured between the shoulder cap and top cap at a position near the adjacent edge of the body member.

4. In a football shoulder pad as defined in claim 2, the inner end of one of said flexible webs on each side of the shoulder pad being looped around the inner edge of the epaulet near one end of the epaulet and extending through a slot in the epaulet for anchorage to the under surface of the epaulet, and the inner end of the other flexible web on each side of the shoulder pad extending through adjacent slots near the other end of the epaulet and being anchored to the under surface of the epaulet.

5. In a football shoulder pad, the combination comprising a pair of padded body members attached together in opposed relationship to one another and each having arched shoulder portions, padded shoulder caps hingedly secured to the arched shoulder portions of the body members and extending outwardly therefrom, arched epaulets overlying the outer regions of the arched shoulder portions of the body members and adjacent portions of the shoulder caps, flexible means providing a hinge connec tion between the mid-portion of the inner lateral margin of each epaulet and the adjacent arched shoulder portion of the body member, means on said shoulder caps providing relatively rigid mid-portions contoured to extend upwardly with respect to the marginal portions thereof, and flexible webs each having an end secured to one of the shoulder caps and extending in angular relationship to one another from said one of the shoulder caps to the inner marginal portion of the adjacent epaulet, said flexible webs each being looped back in closely embracing relation over an inner portion of said adjacent epaulet near its outer end and secured thereto, and said means on the shoulder caps providing stops against which the epaulets bottom under stress to support the epaulets in a relatively level position with respect to the arched shoulder portions of the body members.

6. In a football shoulder pad, the combination comprising a pair of padded body members attached together in opposed relationship to one another and each having arched shoulder portions, padded shoulder caps hingedly secured to the arched shoulder portions of the body members and extending outwardly therefrom, arched epaulets overlying the outer regions of the arched shoulder portions of the body members and adjacent portions of the shoulder caps, flexible means providing a hinge connection between the mid-portion of the inner lateral portion of each epaulet and the adjacent arched shoulder portion of the body member, means on said shoulder caps providing relatively rigid mid-portions contoured to extend upwardly with respect to the marginal portions thereof, and flexible webs each having an end secured to one of the shoulder caps and extending from an upper marginal portion thereof to the inner marginal portion of the front end region of the adjacent epaulet, said flexible webs each being looped back in closely embracing relation over an inner portion of said adjacent epaulet near its outer end and secured thereto, and said means on the shoulder caps providing stops against which the epaulets bottom under stress to support the epaulets in a relatively level position with respect to the arched shoulder portions of the body members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,084 Lookabaugh Apr. 28, 1942 1,862,442 Till June 7, 1932 2,636,170 Goldsmith Apr. 28, 1953 

